FDNY quicker to respond for 3rd year

The FDNY'S emergency response time has dropped for the third consecutive year - even as firefighters responded to a record number of calls in 2007, officials said Sunday.

It took FDNY units an average of 4minutes and 49 seconds to reach burning buildings and medical emergencies last year, department brass said.

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This was as firefighters raced to an alltime high 490,767 calls in 2007 - up 1.2% from 484,954 in 2006, officials said.

The average response time in 2006 was 4 minutes 54 seconds, down from 5minutes 9 seconds in 2005.

Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said there was an even bigger drop - 20 seconds - in the average response time to the most serious medical emergencies, thanks to new GPS technology in all ambulances in the 911-call system.

"With the addition of more advanced training and state-of-the-art equipment in 2007, we have ensured our firefighters and EMS members are better prepared to respond to any crisis, anytime, anywhere," Scoppetta said.